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Members* of the United States Climate Alliance, a bipartisan coalition of 17 governors committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement, today issued the following statement on the proposal announced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for a weak replacement for the 2015 Clean Power Plan:
“We strongly reject, and will continue to oppose, the Administration’s proposal to replace the Clean Power Plan with a weak framework that fails to protect our communities from dangerous carbon pollution, and seeks to prop up dirty power plants.
The Administration is ignoring its obligation under the Clean Air Act to provide emission guidelines based upon the best strategies for reducing air pollution from existing sources. Lack of clear federal guidelines will endanger the health of our people — in fact, the proposal acknowledges the plan will lead up to 1,400 additional premature deaths annually.
Power plants are already implementing strategies that reduce emissions and drive technological improvements in the electric sector. As the rest of the world transitions to cleaner energy sources and drives technological innovation, this proposal leaves Americans behind.
In a summer of record temperatures, extreme storms, and raging wildfires following the worst hurricane year on record, this administration is failing to protect Americans from the threat of climate change and turning a blind eye to the economic benefits of renewable energy development and energy efficiency deployment.
We can do better. Collectively, U.S. Climate Alliance states have reduced power sector emissions 30 percent over the last decade while our economies grew faster than the rest of the nation. But many states will continue to require federal regulation to address climate change through meaningful reductions in carbon emissions. We are resolved to continue reducing pollution from the power sector by supporting clean energy alternatives and other proven strategies.”
*California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington
Launched on June 1, 2017 by the governors of Washington, New York, and California to help fill the void left by the previous administration’s decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement, the Alliance has grown to include 24 governors from across the U.S. representing approximately 60% of the U.S. economy and 55% of the U.S. population. Governors in the Alliance have pledged to collectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2025, at least 50-52% below 2005 levels by 2030, and collectively achieve overall net-zero greenhouse gas emissions as soon as practicable, and no later than 2050.
The Alliance’s states and territories continue to demonstrate that climate action goes hand-in-hand with economic growth, job creation, and better public health. While reducing emissions by 18% between 2005 and 2021, Alliance members grew their collective GDP by nearly 30%. The coalition’s states and territories are employing more workers in the clean energy sector, achieving lower levels of dangerous air pollutants, and preparing more effectively for climate impacts and executing more pre-disaster planning than the rest of the country.
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